Front-wheel drive for motor vehicles



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 M. yRfnoss.

Mar. 6, 1923.

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

HLEDJUNE 6.1921.

Mal'. 6, 1923. f

l IVI. F. ROSS.

mom WHEEL DRIVE EoR MOTOR VEHICLES.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FILED JUNE 6 |921.

Patented lli/lar.i 6, l1923.

`Pare M ATT E. ROSS, F WINDFALL, INDIANA.

FRONT-WHEEL Deiva Application led June 6,

t clare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and at thesame time strong, durable and eflicient front wheel drive constructionadapted for use in connection with motor vehicles, and-more particularlyto provide a steering knuckle or .joint construction. in.connection withthe drive mechanism whereby the maximum of combination and relation ofparts of which I versal joint 12 is not -Which are splined strength withfacility of operation may be attained underconditions insuring proper'lubrication and the exclusion of dust and foreign materials; andmoreover to provide specific and reliable means for minimizing the riskof a'wreck 0r,other damage or injury to the vehicle in the event ofbreakage ofthe axle spindle While providing iinproved means forminimizing the tendency of the spindle to breakageyand with these andrelated objects in view as will appear in the course of the followingdescription, the invention consists in a construction,

a preferred embodiment is shown inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:Figure 1 is a lon itudinal sectional View of a front wheel rive axle andsteering knuckle embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the plane indicated by the line 3 3of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the by the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

The drive axle shaft consists ofthe main drive shaft 10, and the stubshaft 11 connected by a universal joint 12,-'the formez: being mountedin the axle casing 13 with which is connected through the knuckle jointor hinge 15.

The particularv vconstruction of the unipertinent. to the presentinvention other than that the members thereofare provided with hubs 16and 17 in the extremities respecplane indicated the bearing spindle 14-FoR Moron VEHICLES.

19.21. serial No. 475,373.

tively of the main and stub shaft members 10 and 11, the fastening ofthe latter being supplemented by a safety pin 18 which provi es againstthe dismounting of the Wheel hub even in the event of the breakage ofthe bearing spindle. i

At its outerend the stubshaft carries a fixed, preferably integral disk19 which has a peripheral interlocking engagement with the 'outer end ofthe hub 20, said disk and hub being provided with interlocking iteeth ortongues 19a and 20a, said hub -being mounted upon the spindle 14 bymeans of rollers .21 and terminal thrust bearings 22 and 23 of the balltype, and the inner ball ring 24- ofthe outer thrust ball hearing 22 islengaged with a shoulder 25 in the interior of the hub. The outer ballrace ring 25 is secured in place-by aring nut 26, and threaded upon theouter end of the hub is a hub cap 27 serving to insure the interlockingrelation of the stub shaft member l1 -with the hub, said hub cap beinghollow to provide an oil cup or space 28 in communication by means of aport 29 with the thrust spindle roller bearings for the hub. Also awheel cap 30 is fitted over the hub cap, and is slhiiaded upon theexterior surface of the The main drive shaft member 10 is mounted in thecasing 13 by means of the bearing rollers 31 at one end of which isarranged the roller race collar 32 while bearing at theouter end'of theat the other end is arranged the felt oil re tainer or packing ring 33tted in a gland 34.

In order that the steering of the car may be facilitated and may beaccomplished with the least possible resistance due to friction, it i'spreferred to employ a ball and roller bearing ring 35 threaded in onemember4 of the hinge or knuckle as shown at 36 and a hinge pin 37extending through the said ring and threaded as at 38 in the other hingeor knuckle member, anti-friction bearing rollers 39 being interposedbetween thepin and inner surface of the ring and anti-friction bearingballs 40 being arranged at the inner end of the ring with suitable feltoil retainers or packing elements ilv interposed between the -hinge orknuckle members and with the head of the hinge pin overlapping thebearing ring. It will be obvious that adjustment ofthe bearing ringmaybe veffectedto takeup lost motion and prevent and through saidbearings with the iio movement of it is possible by looseness whileinsuring freedom of relative the hinge or knuckle members.

Also a felt gland 42 is arranged at the inner end of the hub overlappingthe flange 43 thereof and a felt oil retaining ring 44 is fitted insideof said Vflange to prevent the escape of oil from the inner ball bearing23 of the hub. The eye 45 is provided for the steering cross arm.

From the foregoing description note that without interfering in any waywith the steering facilities of the front axle or the means whereby thesteering wheels are mounted thereon, and without substantially modifyingythe general appearance of the steering knuckle or the dimensionsthereof, the 'arrangement indicated to'efl'ecta direct drive of thefront wheels under conditions insuring the proper mountin andlubrication thereof and with the mlnimum of risk incident to breakage orotherwise.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A front wheeldrive for motor' driven vehicles having main and stub axle shaft membersconnected by a universal joint in alignment with the axle hinge orknuckle,

-bein the stub shaft extending axially throu h the wheel spindle andhaving a termina disk interlocked with the outer end of the wheel hub,terminal anti-friction thrust bearingsand an intermediate roller bearingbeing provided for the hub, a chambered hub cap threaded upon the outerend of the hub 1n spanning relation with the stub shaft disk and inported communication with the spindle bearlng. Y

'2. A front wheel drive for motor driven vehicles having main and stubaxle shaft members connected by a universal joint in ali ent with theaxle hinge or knuckle, the stub shaft extending axially through thewheel spindle and having a terminal disk interlocked with the outer endof the wheel hub, the hinge or vknuckle joint having a bearing ringthreaded in one member of the knuckle with van anti-friction thrustbearing at the inner end thereof, and a hinge pin extending through saidbearing ring and en- .shoulder formed' adjacent its to provide an oilgaged with the other member of the knuckle,

interlocked with the outer end of the wheel hub, a hub c'ap threadedupon the outer end.

'of the hub in spanning relation therewith, and said hub cap engagingsaid disk and holdinflr the same 1n interlockin' engage-f ment with thehub.

4. A front wheel drive for motorl driven vehicles having main and stubaxle shaft members connected by a universal joint in alignment with theaxle hinge or knuckle, the 'stub shaft extending axially through thewheel spindle and having a terminal disk interlocked with the outer end-of the wheel hub, said wheel hub having /an annular 'outer end, a hubcap threaded on said shoulder and having portions engaging said disk,whereby to hold said disk in interlocking engagement with said hub.

5. A front wheel drive for motor driven vehicles vhaving main and stubaxle shaft members connected by 'a universal joint in alignment with theax e hinge or knuckle,

soy

the stub shaft extendingj axially throu' h the wheel spindle and havinga termina disk interlocked with the outer end of the wheel hub, saidwheel hub having an annular shoulder formed adjacent its outer end, ahub cap threaded on said shoulder and having portions engaging saiddisk, whereby to hold said disk in interlocking engagement with saidhub, and said cap/being hollow cup or chamber in ported communicationwith the hubspindle bearing.

Intestimon whereof I aflx my signature in presence'o two witnesses.

" MATT F. ROSS.

Witnesses:

J. F. PIKE,

J AMES Henman

